When all else fails, play the "KHL" card

I’m certainly not Zherdev’s biggest fan, but I would say he had a good season. Certainly not excellent, but for a first year in New York he was pretty solid for most of the year – he even took over a few games. People were awfully hard on his lack of playoff production, but it’s hard to have high expectations of someone who has never been there before. Regardless of what happens, it’s certainly going to be tough to lose a 24-year-old coming off a 60-point season, but I suppose its the right move so long as Dubinsky stays around.

I gave him “good”, if that translation of “excellent” is accurate though, he is delusional

And on what team in NHL you would like to continue your career?

- To begin with, it must be a team that has a need for me. That’s why I’ll answer your question this way: it would be nice to play on one of the teams in the division that the Rangers play in.

That is the worst case scenario that he becomes a Kovalev where he stays in the division finally is motivated to put it all together.

Although he did not have a great season desired by the blue shirt faithful, Zherdev needs to stay in new york…He will grow into the spot light and perform this year along with gaborik and drury on the power play. Give him a second chance new york…we cannot bring up another young guy this year. However do not over pay Zherdev meet in the middle to where he is happy.

Let me know

The Rangers don’t need a guy who feels like playing when he wants to. That’s a bunch of garbage and Tortorella won’t put up with that crap. The money can be better spent next year trying to re-sign Dubinsky or another D-man should they need one.

The KHL card is such an empty threat. I do not see the Rangers being significantly worse (possibly better off) with him playing in Russia. Someone who takes shifts (and playoff series) off is horrible for team chemistry and Drury should have been on top of that from Day 1.

Granted, he is a great talent, and he may score a highlight goal here and there, but to disappear for a month at a time is not what the Rangers need. They need consistent intensity and effort. Torts will bench his ass quicker than an Ovechkin wrister from the slot.

Take Byers out of that lineup and move lisin down to have some speed on the line, and then put zherved where Lisin is….its simple…Zherdev cannot just be let go….he has potential. Hell I mean drury didnt perform last year and we arnt talking about getting rid of him are we?

Summary of the comments says:
1. No cap space
2. No room
3. No desire.

but if they would i would take Z, Rozi and even a pick for Frolov and O’Donnell as we save 4 mil on the cap and get a LW who can play the 1st line and move Lisin down to the 4th line or even let him mix and match with Avery on 3/4.

That in the end would leave us somewhere around 2-3 mil under the cap for this year assuming dubi gets a new deal…we would also have higgins, frolov, o’donnell coming off with different decisions to be made about them which would be 6.35 mil plus the 2+ mil from this year, redden’s 6.5 and the 2.377 mil in the expiring of staal and girardi’s deals from this year. from my math that would give us approx 17 mil to go after a Kovalchuck, resign Staal, Girardi and maybe keep 1 of higgins or frolov especially with Grachev probably ready to come up.

Shame. Can’t have your cake and eat it too, because I would like to have him back a lot – on the fun side of hockey. He could be very frustrating, but for casual fans like a few of my friends last year that I got to watch hockey, Zherdev was the one that was their favorite. He’s just exciting to watch, and it’s just a shame getting him would likely mean bye-bye to others.

Avery – Dubinsky – Gaborik (Avery and Dubz play good together and Gaborik will thrive with there speed and passing skills)

Higgins – Drury – Kotalik (Drury plays good with Kotalik and Higgins will be the speed on that line.

Lisin – Anisimov – Callahan (Callahan makes any line better, Lisin might not make the 3rd line given he is a right winger and sucks on D, this might have to be a checking line so maybe Voros in Lisins place but i cant say ?

Kovalchuk will likely have bigger plans than playing on a re-tooled, less salary cap stricken team on the Rangers, sorry but he’s got to be top notch and despite there being a lot of spot light in NY, it’ll have to be spread about.

Good luck though, I am sure you could lure another european who doesn’t really wanna play.

But it’s going to be a waste of money when Tort’s benches his ass every other game. I’d say $1 Million sallery with a shit load of incentives.

I am currently not hearing anything about chuk coming to the rangers, but it would def be a powerhouse of a line…and hey, everyone endures some wishful thinking every once in a while….but you and me both want this to happen.

Fortunado…
Unfortunately, the Rangers (since Sather… or before?? Whatever) believe they can get high priced guys, slam them in the same locker room and have an instant chemistry party.
It doesn’t help that THN’s Stan Fischler (sp?) stated for 17 yrs straight “This is the Rangers’ year for a cup victory”.

I think a new philosophy should be adopted. Its sad that a Original 6 Team doesn’t get TEAM philosophy. To watch a Lindros, a Jagr, a Gomez/Drury, all show up with Huge upside, and slowly dwindle… its hard as a fan of the game to see.

The realities for the KHL (NHL defectors) players is that they rarely come back. I did think Z had a great upside, and never really managed to “bring it” while in Columbus, but I also knew going to the Rags wasn’t something that was going to have long term benefit for either him or the RAgs. They have a hard time of mining for young talent, and and even harder time developing it once it is found. I pray for Callahan and his family history that he makes it in NY… otherwise Rags fans will turn on him. He’s a young guy with some talent, bring him into the spotlight slowly.

But overall point being Kovy isn’t a TEAM player, and if you guys are worried about lining up who you have now to get the best out of them, I don;t think Kovy would be a good fit… not the RAgs Savior. There’s enough enigmatic Russian talents to go around *(Habs continue to draft them, but none have played since Perezhogin- who by the way returned to Russia) – so don’t take my comments to heart.

Oh.. and I think with Antropov you’ve already got your quota of enigmatic Russians… so… guess Kovy’s out…lol